Trump administration revokes duty-free sops on import of 50 Indian products

India is the largest beneficiary nation under the GSP, having exported goods worth $5.6 billion to the US in 2017-18

Ending months of speculation, the Donald Trump administration has ended benefits provided to 50 Indian exports under the US’ Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) scheme.

The US President on Wednesday signed an executive order to this effect that ended duty-free status for 50 items, including a range of inorganic and organic chemicals, agricultural products such as cucumbers and gherkin, and certain types of animal hide, among others. The impact on total exports is set to be minimal, according to a Commerce Department official.

A total of 90 items — from a large group of nations including Brazil, Argentina, Thailand, Egypt and Ecuador,